Tallinna Keskraamatukogu - Page 282

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The 1960s: What Really Happened?
The post-war reign of terror began to slowly subside in the
middle of the 1950s. In 1956 the first of those deported to
Siberia by the new regime arrived back in Estonia. Many who
were able to stay alive and return to Estonia were not able to
return to their homes. The desire for education drove many
people to learn alongside their work. The free education
system of the period of independence disappeared with the
coming of the new regime, but at the end of the 1950s and
beginning of the 1960s interest groups sustaining national
culture became more active in the shadow of compulsory
propagandist events.
In 1958 a literature group was established at the Tallinn
Central Library, and to this was added a homeland research
group in the 1960s. Soon after an ex libris collectors group
was formed. At the same time there was a literature group in
the Russian department. Interest in literature grew greatly.
The work of Estonian authors was published more and
more. In the 1960s many young writers came on the scene
who have influenced Estonian literature to the present day.
In keeping with the requirements of the times the libraries
had to arrange various mass events and diversify the form
of literary events. One of the most popular events of the
decade was the literary court. These literary courts were
presented as a spectacle: in the “trials” there was a plaintiff,
defendant and judge. As collectivism was stressed at that
time, encapsulation was condemned and the propaganda
deman